​Power outage continues to haunt Sullia taluk with new 110kV HT line facing land hurdles

The existing 33 kV supply line from Puttur to Sullia passes through forest areas. Hence, falling of trees and their branches on supply lines frequently disrupt power supply.

Whenever it rains heavily on the foot of the Western Ghats in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, residents of Sullia taluk shiver at the thought of remaining without electricity for days together.

Because, the 33 kV supply line from Puttur to Sullia passes through forest areas where falling of trees and their branches on supply lines frequently disrupt power supply. The situation was repeated ​last week when the region witnessed heavy rains on April 9 and 10 with the taluk plunging into darkness for hours together.

M. S. Ravikeshava, an agriculturist at Chokkadi in Sullia taluk, said people had to remain without power the intervening night of April 9 and 10. This was a regular feature and their woes appear never-ending, he said.

Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (MESCOM) Executive Engineer at Puttur A. Ramachandra told The Hindu the company was doing its best to restore power supply whenever there is a disruption. Unless the 110 kV Madavu (Puttur) – Sullia Series Compensation (SC) Direct Current (DC) line being executed by the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd., (KPTCL) gets completed, MESCOM could do little as the existing supply lines pass beneath massive trees in forest areas, he said.

KPTCL Major Works Executive Engineer in Mangaluru K. Gangadhar said the ₹40 crore HT line project, work order for which was issued in 2023, got delayed following opposition by landowners along the 21.6 km alignment. Neither were they ready to offer 3-4 cents of land for each tower nor prepared to give right of way for the HT line.

Of the 89 towers for the line, the foundation was erected only for seven while the required fee was paid to the Forest Department for 35 towers in reserve forest areas.

Sullia MLA Bhagirathi Murulya had convened a meeting on March 26 to sort out the issues, he said.